Conduit and method of constructing the same



Dec. 9, 1930. w. H. COLLINS 1,784,271

CONDUIT AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME Filed Jfily 13. 1927 2Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 9, 1930. w. H. COLLINS 1,784,271

CONDUIT AND METHOD OF CONSTRUCTING THE SAME Filed July 13. 1927 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE A WALTERH. CQLLINS, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T0 PACIFIC CLAYPRODUCTS, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, A CORIORA'IIGN OF CALIFQRNIAoonnnrr AND METHOD on Application filed my 13,

This invention relates to conduits of the type employing interlockingmembers forming an arch which is preformed and then placed in positionon a slab constructed'of cementitious material.

This invention also relates to the method of constructing a conduitemploying interlocking members and a cementitious slab.

, An object of the invention is strength and durability of construction.

Another object is to lower the cost of building conduits of this type.

Another object is to expedite the construction of conduits.

Further objects and advantages will appear in the subjoined detaileddescription.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention:

Fig.1 is a perspective view of a fragment 0f the slab or baseconstituting a portion of a conduit constructed in accordance with theprovisions of this invention.

Fig. 2 is an end View of one of the arches mounted on a form andillustrates the operation 01 forming the arch from a number ofinteriitting blocks. 7

. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of Fig. 2 from the left thereof. 2

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one of the completed arch unitssupported on a carrier by which the arch unit is moved into position toform apart of the conduit. The blocks are diagrammatically shown, noattempt being made to indicate the openings in said blocks. Fig. 5 is aview of the carrier detached, the solid lines showing the parts in thepositions they occupy when the carrier is expanded and broken linesindicating the parts in the positions they occupy when the carrier iscontracted.

Fig. 6 is an end view of the completed conduit, The blocks arediagrammatically 'showinnoattempt being made to show the openings insaid blocks.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional detail ofa fragment of a conduit showingone of the joints between the arch unit and the slab.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged broken sectional detail on the line indicated by88, Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings there is provided consrnnc'rrne THE SAME 1927.Serial No. 205,342.

a slab or base constructed of cementitious ma-- terial as, for example,Portland cement, or concrete. The slab or base may be reeniorced withmetal members, if desired. The slab or base is'indicated in generalbythe characte 11 and, in the present instance, the upper face of theslab is grooved, as indicated at 12. The bottom of the groove12 in thisinstance, is formed by downwardly and inwardly sloping faces 13 whichmeet along the median line of the slab. Thus the groove 12 is deepernear the middle than at the sides. In this instance, thesidesof thegroove 12 are formed by vertical inner faces 14 of side walls 15. Theupper faces of the sidewalls 15 are provided with longitudinallyextending grooves or channels 16.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated an arch unit which is indicated in general bythe character 17. The arch unit comprises a plurality of interfittingblocks 18. The particular details of construction of the blocks need notbe entered'into'herein except as to the general construction that admitsof them being secured to one another by cement keys which interlock withthe blocks. It suflices to say that each block is provided withoppositely positioned spaced tongues 19 and spaced grooves 20, thetongues and grooves of ad jacent blocks interfitting or interengagingwith one another, as clearly shown in Fig. 7

In constructing the arch unit 17, a suitable wooden form 21 is employed,the same comprising a base cross member 22. a pair of oppositelypositioned arch sections 23, a pair of oppositely positioned archsections 24 and a key arch section 25. The arch sections 23 rest on thecross member 22, the arch sections 24 rest on the sections 23 and thekey arch section 25 is interposed between the upper ends of the sections2 1. Suitable bracing 26 connect the different arch sections of theform. In constructing the arch unit, the form 21 will, preferably, belaid on its side, asin Fig. 2. A block 18 will be placed against eachend portion of the cross member 22 and against the form section 23 andthe remaining portion of the arch unit will then be built up in likemanner until the arch is closed at the top, the last block being slippededgewise into position. As an alternative the construction of the archunit I may start at one side and be carried around and completed at theopposite side. The blocks, When in place, have alined openings 271 inthe tongues 19 and cement grout is poured into said openings. some ofthe cement flows into the joints between the blocks, as indicated at 272and the cement that remains in the openings 271 hardens and forms asolid rod or key 27 that locks the adjacent blocks together.

After the grout has set sufiiciently, the form 21 may be removed.

Having cast the slab 11 in situ' by the use of form members, in a mannerwell understood in the art relating to concrete construction, the archunit, constructed as above described, will be mounted upon said slab. Toeffect this, there is'provided a carrier of a suitable construction. Inthe present instance the carrier is indicated in general by thecharacter 28 and comprises a number of curved members 29 arranged inpairs, the members of each pair being hingedly connected at-their upperends as indicated at 30 so that the lower, ends of said members can beswung into the different positions shown in solid and broken; lines inFig. 5. The pintle, 31 of the hinge is bent back upon itself so as tovform a hook having an eye 32 to which may be fixed the tackle of ahoist. Connecting the lower ends of the members 29 on each side is a bar34 and hinged at 35 to each of'the bars 34 are arms 36. I The arms 36 onone side overlap those on the other side and the overlapping portions ofthe arms are provided with holes 37. Extending through the holes 37 is abolt 38, on which are pipe spacers or sleeves 381 interposed between thepairs of overlapping arms 36. The bolt 38 is provided atone end with anut 39 adapted, when tightened, to frictionally clamp the arms 36against the sleeves 381, either in the position shown in. solid lines'inFig. 5 or in. the position indicated in broken lines insaid figure. Thearms'36constitute a toggle device for spreading the members 29 to thesolid line position of Fig. 5 or for retracting said members to thebroken line position. I I

When it is desired to'place an arch unit in position on the slab 11,cement grout il will be placed in the, channels 16 and on the fiat faces40 at the sides of said channels, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7, andthe carrier 28, in the contracted condition indicated in broken lines inFig. 5, will be swung into position within the arch unit that is to bemounted on the slab. Then the carrier will be expanded into the opencondition shown in Fig. 4 so that the members 29 will closely fitagainst the inner facesof the blocks 1 8;.

thus to support all of the blocks when the arch unit is being raised andlowered. The tackle 33 will then be operated by a suitable means, notshown, to raise the arch unit from its resting place and to swin saidunit into position over the slab 11. then be operated to lower the archunit so that the sides thereof will restupon the cement grout 41. Morecement will then be forced through the openings 271 in the tongues 19 ofthe blocks that rest. on. the

cement grout 41, so as to form the cement he tackle will.

keys that firmly lock the blocks to the slab 11. Successive arch unitsof the conduit will be added in the same manner, successive units beingplaced end to end until the conduit is completed.

From the foregoing it will be clear that in the method of constructingthe. conduit 11 series of arch units is constructed of individualinterfitting blocks keyed or locked to one another by cement keys, abase cast insitu and thearchunits then placed in succession upon saidbase. It will be readily understood that after an arch unit has beenproperly positioned and secured in place, the exposed end thereof, aswell as-the end of the arch unit that is to be placed next to it, is

coated with cement grout and thatsome of the cement grout will enter thecored openings-in the tile so as to firmly connect adjacent arch units.However, the arch units may be suitablyconnected to one another in anydesired manner for this invention relates only to the construction ofeach arch unit and the. method of making the same, and is not concernedwith the construction whereby the arch units are secured to one another.

It will also be clear that this method of constructing the conduit isexpeditious and that the completed conduit will be very strong anddurable.

I claim: r

1. A conduit comprising a slab of cementi- .tious material providedalong its side margins with longitudinally'extending channels,

cement grout along the margins of said channels, and a series of archunits, each arch unit formed of blocks provided with tongues andgrooves,the tongues and grooves of adjacent blocks interfitting, thetongues being provided with aligned openings,cement keys extendingthrough the aligned o enings to lock the adjacent blocks together, t I etongues of the end blocks'of eacharch unit engaging in one of thechannels,-and the cement grout extending into the grooves in the endblocks of each arch unit.

2. The method of making a conduit 0011-, sisting in casting a base insitu, casting blocks provided with spaced tongues and with alignedopenings extending through said tongues, placing the blocks end to endon an arched form with their tongues interfitting, forcing cementthrough the aligned openings to lock adjacent blocks to one anotherwhile the blocks remain on the form to produce an arch unit, allowingthe cement keys to set, removing the form from the arch unit after thecement has set, placing the arch unit thus constructed on the base, andcementing said unit to the base.

3. The method of making a conduit consisting in casting a base in situ,casting blocks provided with spaced tongues and said tongues providedwith openings, placing the blocks end to end on an arched form with thetongues of adjacentblocks interfitting, forcing cement through thealigned openings of adjacent tongues to form keys While the blocksremain on the form to produce an arch unit, allowing the cement keys toset, removing the form from the arch unit after the cement has set, thenplacing a carrier under the arch unit, then moving the carrier with thearch unit thereon into position on the base, then removing the carrierfrom the arch unit and cementing said arch unit to the base.

4:. The method of making a conduit consisting in casting a base in situprovided along its side margins with longitudinally 7 extendingchannels, casting blocks provided with spaced tongues and with alignedopenings extending through said tongues from end to end thereof, placingthe blocks end to end on an arched form with their adjacent tonguesinterfitting, forcing cement grout through the aligned openings to lockadjacent blocks to one another while the blocks remain on the form toproduce an arch unit, allowing the cement keys to set, separating theform from the arch unit after the cement has set, placing cement groutin the channels,

' placing the arch unit thus constructed on the base with the endtongues of the unit in the cement grout in the channels, and thenforcing cement grout into the grooves of the end blocks of the unit tokey said end blocks in the channels.v

Signed at Los Angeles, Calif, this 7th day of July, 1927.

WALTER H. COLLINS.

